RAV4 woes

[MKMike]

Hello everyone. I’m a novice to Toyota and the forum. I have a 1998 RAV4, with a 3S-FE engine they had done 56,000 miles. I lived in Oz when I was young and have fond memories of Toyota-based camping expeditions with my family.

A few months ago it started burning oil and fuel consumption went up. There is a tell-tale puff of smoke from the exhaust when I start it.

One local garage has suggested the valve seal (which is what I was expecting). But, it has been suggested to me by someone who professes to know about Toyota that the 3S-FE is know to have had issues with the pistons. I don’t know whether this person does or doesn’t know much about Toyota and thought I would introduce myself to you all and see what your combined experience of this engine is.

Other than this fault, it has given four years of trouble-free motoring and I am keen to keep it going if I can.

If anyone has a recommendation of a knowledgeable and reasonably priced Toyota mechanic in the Beds / Bucks area then that would also be helpful, as both valve seals and piston faults are beyond my technical and workshop capabilities.

Mike

[Uncle Bob]

Big welcome to the forum Mike 👍🏻 It’s the way the blue smoke comes out the exhaust pipe that will give you an idea of what’s wrong with the engine, if it once hot it gives out a big puff of smoke as you pull away from a junction or traffic lights it more likely to be valve stem oil seals...if it pours out smoke all the time is looking like piston rings it worn cylinder bores.
The cheaper of the two jobs is to get the valve stem seals done or if that is an expensive job..maybe a second hand low mileage engine is an option 👍🏻

[MCMIke]

Hi Bob, thank you for the advice. It is when we pull away from a junction that we get the smoke, so likely to get the valve seals.

Now, I need to find a workshop that wants to do the work 😀